The youth of Barangay Sta. Felomina have seized an opportunity to become active drivers of SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, thanks to a skills training program promoting entrepreneurship and youth employment. The March 2024 training, facilitated by North Valley College Social Work students, centered on dishwashing liquid making as a viable, low-cost, and scalable business. This initiative successfully instilled a self-reliance and entrepreneurial mindset in the over 25 participating youth, giving them a pathway to decent work that they create for themselves, rather than waiting for traditional job opportunities. It champions responsible entrepreneurship and helps reduce dependence on conventional employment channels.
The training was specifically structured to equip the participants with the full spectrum of skills needed to operate a small enterprise. Beyond the practical steps of producing the liquid, the session included vital business management knowledge, such as costing, budgeting, and essential marketing strategies. The youth were taught advanced, accessible business strategies like cooperative selling, product branding, and leveraging social media marketing, allowing them to maximize profit potential even from a home-based production model. This comprehensive approach to skill-building is designed to foster sustainable livelihood initiatives, leading to increased interest in forming small-scale production groups and initiating plans for continuing training and product development.
With the active support of barangay officials and community leaders, the youth-led discussion on future business collaboration and scaling is a promising sign of localized economic growth. The training prepared the youth to be more economically independent and community-engaged. By successfully acquiring a practical, marketable livelihood skill, the young people of Sta. Felomina are now empowered with the tools for income generation and self-sufficiency, ensuring that their contribution to the local economy is ethical, responsible, and a true step toward achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
